Xmas Drop

Hacksaw Gaming has added a delightful addition to its slot lineup with the release of Xmas Drop, just in time to set the festive mood for Christmas. This holiday-themed game offers players a variety of treats, including expanding Wilds that can potentially come with multipliers, two exciting Free Spins rounds, and the option to use Ante Bet and Bonus Buy features.

Gameplay features and bonuses

Xmas Drop boasts a 5-reel, 5-row grid with 19 paylines. The default RTP rate stands at 96.22%, with slight variations when using Bonus Buy features, and it maintains a base game medium volatility level.

Wild Santa Symbol: When Wild Santa symbols appear, they can expand downward if doing so would create winning combinations. Each reel can host only one Wild symbol at any given time.

Wild Gift Symbol: If a Wild Santa expands through a Wild Gift symbol, it transforms into a multiplier that applies to the entire expanded Wild Santa. These multipliers range from x2 to x200. If multiple multipliers contribute to a winning combo, their values are summed and then applied to the winnings.

Night Before Xmas: Triggered by three Scatter symbols landing simultaneously, this bonus feature grants ten free spins. During the Night Before Xmas feature, the chances of encountering Wild Santa and Wild Gift symbols are heightened compared to the base game. Another four free spins are awarded if three more Scatters land. If 4 Scatters appear during the Night Before Xmas feature, the Santa Claus Is Coming To Town feature activates at the end of the spin. If the remaining free spins are less than 10, they are set back to 10.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town: Requiring 4 Scatter symbols to appear simultaneously in the base game, this bonus feature provides ten free spins. In the Santa Claus Is Coming To Town feature, each reel can be activated by a Wild Santa symbol landing on it. Once a reel activates, a Wild Santa symbol is guaranteed to appear on that reel for all remaining free spins. Landing 3 Scatters simultaneously during this feature rewards an additional four free spins.

Bonus Buy: Players can choose from several options, either to instantly activate a bonus round or to increase their bets for features. Here are the options:

• Bonus Hunt Feature Spins (3x the bet): Each spin has a five times higher chance of triggering a bonus game. This comes with high volatility and an RTP of 96.44%.
• Two Wild Santa Feature Spins (20x the bet): Each spin guarantees at least two Wild Santa symbols, offering very high volatility and an RTP of 96.34%.
• Three Wild Santa Feature Spins (50x the bet): Similar to the previous option but with three Wild Santa symbols, providing high volatility and an RTP of 96.31%.
• Night Before Xmas (110x the bet): Instantly activates the round with high volatility and an RTP of 96.2%.
• Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (200x the bet): Activates the round with high volatility and an RTP of 96.41%.

Design and Soundtrack

In terms of design, Xmas Drop presents fairly typical graphics for a Christmas-themed slot. The backdrop features a serene snowy forest, while the reels display symbols such as the familiar 10 to A printed on playing cubes in various colors like green, blue, red, pink, and yellow. Additionally, you'll find classic Christmas icons, including a stocking, candy cane, Christmas tree, teddy bear, bell, wrapped present, and Santa himself. While this setup adheres to the standard formula for a festive slot, the graphics are by no means subpar, and the accompanying jingling soundtrack is subtle, making it rather appealing.

The Bottom Line

Christmas-themed slots, while somewhat clichéd, can still bring joy to your gaming experience during the holiday season. Xmas Drop, in particular, offers expanding Wild Santa symbols, which can potentially include multipliers when combined with Wild Gift symbols. Additionally, it features two free spins bonus rounds that add anticipation and the potential for more significant rewards. The option to activate an ante bet feature to boost symbol landing chances or to purchase the bonus round is a welcome addition. For enthusiasts of this genre, there's a chance to aim for a maximum win of 12,500x, making it a substantial Christmas reward if luck is on your side.